Origin labelling

Origin labelling

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Milk and milk products

Origin labelling

On 20 May 2015 the Commission adopted a report regarding the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for milk, milk used as an ingredient in dairy products and types of meat other than beef, swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat.

Article 26(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers requires the Commission to submit reports to the European Parliament and the Council regarding the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for the following foods:

Types of meat other than beef, swine, sheep, goat and poultry;

Milk and milk used as an ingredient in dairy products;

Unprocessed foods;

Single ingredient products;

Ingredients that constitute over 50% of a food.

The "Report on the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for milk, milk used as an ingredient in dairy products and types of meat other than beef, swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat" evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of various origin labelling options in milk, dairy products and "minor" meats such as rabbit, horse and game meats. The report concludes that consumers may, if they so wish, opt for milk or meat products where origin information is voluntarily provided for by food business operators. This can be a suitable option without imposing additional burden on the industry and the authorities. Mandatory origin labelling would entail higher regulatory burden for most of the products assessed in the report and therefore, the question at stake is to assess whether the balance between costs and benefits is such that it would justify its mandatory indication.

In parallel, another report has also been adopted on 20/05/2015 on "the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for unprocessed foods, single ingredient products and ingredients that represent more than 50% of a food".